Northern Tool & Equipment Company, Inc. 401(k) Review & Grade
Northern Tool & Equipment Company, Inc. 401(k) Plan
Burnsville, MNRetail Trade2,664 active participantsPlan year 2024✓ Auto-enroll
Estimate from the plan's Form 5500 filing · How we grade
$911Employer $ per active participant
$2,928Employee $ saved per active participant
0.17%Direct admin cost, % of plan assets
$104.0MNet plan assets, end of year
$32,256Average balance per account
Score breakdown
- Employer generosity30.5 / 5061th percentile for employer $ per participant
- Low cost10.1 / 2540th percentile for low admin cost vs. same-size plans
- Employee saving9.8 / 1565th percentile for employee $ per participant
- Plan features10 / 10Auto-enrollment, Default investment
- Red-flag deductions-10 pts1 issue reported on the filing
Total score50 / 100 · Grade C
This plan vs. peers
Peers: Retail Trade plans with 2,500–9,999 active participants (183 plans).
| Measure | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Employer $ per participant | 61th |
| Lower admin cost | 40th |
| Employee saving | 65th |
| Peers that auto-enroll | 42% |
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Red flags from the filing
Late deposits: the filing says some employee contributions were not sent to the plan on time ($270,613 reported). That's money taken from paychecks that sat with the employer longer than the law allows.
What to do if you're in this plan
- Northern Tool & Equipment Company put in about $911 per active participant, more than the typical peer ($650). Contribute at least enough to collect the full match. Skipping it leaves part of your pay on the table.
- The filing shows total dollars, not the match formula. Ask HR for the Summary Plan Description so you know the exact match and vesting schedule.
- Fund expense ratios aren't in the filing. Look them up in your 404(a)(5) fee disclosure and favor low-cost index or target-date funds.
- The plan auto-enrolls employees. Check your default contribution rate. Defaults are often lower than what it takes to get the full match.
- The plan reported late deposits of employee contributions. Compare your pay stubs with your account statements, and contact the plan administrator if money shows up late.
- Changing jobs? You can usually leave the money in the plan, move it to your new employer's plan, or roll it into an IRA. Don't cash out: you'd owe taxes and possibly a 10% penalty.
The raw numbers from the filing
| Employer contributions | $2,425,490 |
| Participant (employee) contributions | $7,798,625 |
| Other contributions (incl. rollovers in) | $649,141 |
| Administrative expenses paid from the plan | $168,593 |
| Investment advisory & management fees | $10,403 |
| Benefits paid out | $12,371,936 |
| Net assets, start / end of year | $94.3M / $104.0M |
| Active participants, start / end of year | 2,697 / 2,630 |
| Participants with account balances | 3,225 |
| Auto-enrollment (feature code 2S) | Yes |
| Auditor | Cliftonlarsonallen LLP |
Largest service providers (Schedule C)
| Empower Annuity Insurance Company O | $154,250 reported compensation |
| Empower Advisory Group, LLC | $10,403 reported compensation |
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 filing, acknowledgment ID 20251013165220NAL0000839411001, received 2025-10-13, EIN 41-1405311, plan #003, plan year 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31. Verify at efast.dol.gov.